Numbers 10:2-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 10:1-10

We have here directions concerning the public notices that were to be given to the people upon several occasions by sound of trumpet. In a thing of this nature, one would think, Moses needed not to have been taught of God: his own reason might teach him the conveniency of trumpets; but the constitution of Israel was to be in every thing divine, and therefore even in this matter, small as it seems. Moses is here directed, 1. About the making of them. They must be made of silver; not cast but of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:2

Make thee two trumpets of silver ,.... A metal very valuable and precious, durable, and fit for sound; only two are ordered, Aaron having but two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, who were to blow with them, Numbers 10:8 ; for though Moses's order is, "make thee", or for thee, yet not for his own use, but for the priests to use when he should order them: the Targum of Jonathan adds, of what is thine own, as if they were to be made at his own expense; but others say, and which is more probable,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:3

And when they shall blow with them ,.... With both the trumpets, in an even and continued sound, that is, the sons of Aaron: all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation ; to hear what was to be said unto them: blowing both the trumpets together was a token that the whole congregation was called to meet together at the tabernacle, the door of which was the usual place of assembling, especially on religious counts, for there also the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:4

And if they blow but with one trumpet ,.... With only one of them, or but once, with one sounding, and that an even one as before: then the princes, which are the heads of the thousands of Israel , shall gather themselves unto thee : and they only or alone, as Aben Ezra: by this token, or by this difference of blowing both trumpets, or only one, it was, easily known when the whole congregation or when the princes only were to meet Moses at the same place, the door of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:5

When ye blow an alarm ,.... Making a broken, uneven, and quavering sound, which is called a "tara-tan-tara": then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward ; the camps of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, which lay to the east of the tabernacle, at the front of it; see Numbers 1:3 ; this was to be the token for their march, which was first of all; Numbers 10:14 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:6

When ye blow an alarm the second time ,.... Another "tara-tan-tara": then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey ; the camps of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, which were encamped on the south side of the tabernacle, Numbers 2:10 ; and, as Josephus F11 Ut supra. (Antiq. l. 3. c. 12. sect. 6.) says, at the third sounding of the alarm, that part of the camp which lay to the west moved, which were the camps of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, Numbers 2:18 ; and at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:7

But when the congregation is to be gathered together ,.... At the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and not to move in separate camps or bodies one after another: you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm ; blow with an even and uninterrupted sound, and not with a broken and quavering one; by which the congregation and camps were distinguished from one another, the same certain sound being given to each constantly, whereby they knew which were called to motion: see 1... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:8

And the sons of Aaron the priests shall blow with the trumpets ,.... Eleazar and Ithamar, the one with the one and the other with the other, there being at first but two, as there were but two priests; but in Solomon's time there were an hundred twenty priests, and as many trumpets, 2 Chronicles 5:12 ; hence Maimonides says F12 Hilchot Cele Hamikdash, c. 3. sect. 4. , there were never fewer than two trumpets, nor more than an hundred twenty: and they shall be to you for an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:9

And when ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you ,.... That enters in to invade it, to besiege cities, and distress the inhabitants of it: then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets : a "tara-tan-tara" with both of them, to call the several tribes together to join against the enemy; or to call them to fasting and humiliation, to repentance and prayer, to seek the Lord in the exercise of these, and cry for help and assistance, for victory and salvation; for, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 10:10

Also in the day of your gladness ,.... When they should return from the enemy's country conquerors, or have vanquished the enemy that came against them into their own land, and so would fix a day of rejoicing, like the days of Purim, and the seven days when Hezekiah rejoiced, as Aben Ezra observes; and so any time of rejoicing on account of any extraordinary deliverance and salvation: and in your solemn days ; or festivals, as the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles, which were... read more

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